Air moistener



Nov. 25, 1-924.

C. P. KAVANEY AIR MOISTENER Filed Oct. 13

W m Z Patented Nov. 25, 1924;.

PATENT o Fic CHARLES IP. KAVANEY, OF PRETTY ROCK, NORTH DAKOTA.

AIR MOISTENER.

Application filed October 13, 1923. Serial No. 668,390.

tain new and useful Improvementsin Air" Moisteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in air moisteners particularly adapted for connection with the air intake of the carburetor of an internal combustion engine.

It is well known that when moist air is supplied to the air intake of a carburetor of an internal combustion engine that a more. economical "consumption of fuel results, less carbon deposit is experienced within the engine cylinders, and the engine operates with more power and eiiiciency in general. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an air moistener device adapted for connection with the air intake of engine carburetors for moistening the air fed to the/carburetor, and by means of which excessive moisture is prevented from flowing thruthe carburetor during the operation of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air moistener of the above kind which embraces the desired qualities of simplicity, durability, and efficiency in operation, the device being of such nature as to insure cleaning of the air'before its passage thru the carburetor.

A still further'object of the invention is to provide an air moistener which will require very little attention, and which embodies a comparatively few number of parts, and these so formed and co-related as to meet with the requirements for a successful commercial use.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention isbetter understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout. the several views:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional View through an air moistening device constructedin accordancewith the. present 1nvention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view enlarged to clearly show one of the spacing members utilized in the construction of the device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present invention embodies an outer receptacle 5 and a sleeve 6, disposed in spaced concentric relation,'and preferably of cylindrical form as shown, the sleeve being seated upon the bottom of the receptacle 5, and being closed by a top wall 7', at the upper end thereof. The outer receptacle is open at its top for convenient reception of the inner receptacle, and the top wall 7 of the inner receptacle is provlded with a projecting annular flange. co-extensive with the top wall 7 as at 8, which flange overlies the upper edge of the outer receptacle as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. As the inner receptacle is slightly longer or taller than the outer receptacle, the flange 8 is Spaced from the upper edge of the receptacle 5, so that air may enter between the flange and the upper end of the outer receptacle and then pass downwardly into the receptacle.

The inner member or sleeve 6 is provided with numerous perforations, as at 9, entirely around the lower portion of its side walls, whereby the air may pass from the annular space into the inner receptacle, and whereby water or other suitable fluid may assume a common level as indicated at 10 within the receptacle v6 andthe space between the latter and the outer receptacle 5, which level is above the uppermost ones of the perforations or openings 9, as shown clearly in Fig.

sired level for indicating to the user that sufiicient water has been placed in the device. The top wall 7 of the sleeve is provided with a suitable filling opening closed by means of a screw plug 12 or its equivalent, whereby the water may be conveniently placed within the device, and an outlet pipe 13 communicates at one end withthe interior of the inner receptacle, centrally of the top. wall 7 said outlet pipe 13 being adapted to be suitably coupled at its outer end with the air intake of a carburetor in any well known or preferred manner.

The inner receptacle 6 has a plurality of spacing brackets 14 of substantially U shape, rigidly attached-thereto, preferably in upper and lower circular horizontal series as shown, said brackets being provided upon the exterior of the receptacle 6, and disposed so that their outer vertical central portions contact with the inner surfac of the recepthrough the screen 15 before entering the outlet pipe 13.

Any suitable means may be provideth as at 17, for positively maintaining the screen in its proper position, such as lugs upon the inner surface of thereceptacle 6, and upon which the ring or band 16 rests.

In operation, with the parts assembled as shown in Figure 2 and water placed within the device at the level indicated at 10, the

- outlet 13 is suitably coupled to the air intake of the carburetor. Upon starting the motor or internal combustion engine, the air is drawn in between the flange 8 and the upper end of the outer receptacle, after which said air passes downwardly between the receptacles 5 and 6 through the Water in the space between said receptacles and then through the perforations 9. The air then passes upwardly through the water Within the receptacle 6 to the screen 15 in a thoroughly moistened state, and in passing through this screen, excess moisture is removed from the air, and the moistened air which is allowed to pass therethrough is finely divided before passing into the outlet pipe 13. The air then passes through the outlet pipe 13 into the carburetor, Where it is mixed with the fuel and fed into the cylinders of the engine in the usual manner. Due to the heat of the engine, the moisture thus conveyed thereto with the fuel and air, is

readily converted into comparatively dry steam which, it is we'l known, will greatly minimize carbon deposits in the cylinders and assist in rendering the operation of the engine more eflicient and powerful and resulting in a more economical consumption of fuel. Also, it is apparent that any dust or particles will be removed from the air in passing through the water, so that perfectly clean moist air is supplied to the carburetor when using the present device.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. A

What I claim as new is:

An air moistener comprising a substantially cylindrical water receptacle, a substantially cylindrical sleeve disposed within the receptacle and having its lower end resting upon the bottom of the latter, said sleeve ,being spaced from said receptacle to provide aun'iform annular space between itself and the receptacle, said sleeve being of a height slightly greater than that of the receptacle, a top plate carried by said sleeve and projecting beyond the wallthereof to overlie and extend beyond the upper end of said receptacle to afford a restricted annu-- lar air intake, an inverted cone shaped strainer removably supported within said sleeve beneath said top plate, said top plate being formed at its center and at a point directly above the apex of said screen with its discharge opening, a conduitconnected with said opening, a filler opening in said top plate above said screen, a closure for said filler opening, and a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced spacing members carried by said sleeve and bearing againslithe wall of the receptacle to maintain the desired spaced relation, said sleeve being provided at its bottom with a multipliclty of air intake openings.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES P. KAVANE Y. 

